Also known as the Small
Sagittarius Star cloud is a particular object in the Messier catalogue.
Discovered in 1764 it was described as a "large nebulosity containing many
stars..." Messier 24 is a perfect target for binoculars under dark skies. Within
the cloud many objects can be distinguished in the image: NGC 6603 which is the
star cluster un the upper regions shines at magnitude 11.

Edward Emerson Barnard
catalogued two prominent dark regions in the northern potions of the cloud
labeled as B92 and B93. Both are interstellar dust cloud contrasting very nicely
with the crowded star field.

At the center left of
the image we have a colorful complex area: IC 1283, 1284 and 4700 form the HII clouds
which absorbs the radiation of nearby stars and releasing red light. The two
bright blue reflecting clouds are NGC 6589 and 6590 which appear to be
superimposed and merged with the mentioned HII area.